Modestas Bukauskas returns to the UFC after being offered a fight in Australia against Tyson Pedro on short notice.
Mingyang Zhang (16-6 MMA) was set to make his debut after his successful run in the Road to the UFC series in China. However, less than three weeks before the bout he pulled out. Resulting in Bukauskas to step in with the intention of making a statement. The short-notice opportunity was announced by his management team on Twitter. Confirming that he will be taking on Pedro (9-3 MMA).
‘It’s Comeback Season’ for Bukauskas who will be competing at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia at UFC 284 on Feb 12.
Will Modestas Bukauskas Bounce Back?
Bukauskas is 13-5 in his professional MMA career however his first stint at the UFC didn’t go quite so well. He won his UFC debut via TKO against Andreas Michailidis back in 2020. Following that victory, he then suffered three straight losses to Jimmy Crute, Michael Oleksiejczuk and Khalil Rountree. The slump meant that he was cut from the UFC completely.
In his last UFC bout, he sustained a serious knee injury which kept him out for 14 months. Following the long lay off the England-based Lithuanian returned to MMA promotion, Cage Warriors. Winning his first fight back by unanimous decision against Lee Chadwick, he earned a vacant Light Heavyweight title shot. Bukauskas went on to win the belt via a fourth-round knockout against Chuck Campbell.
Another example of long lay-offs is coincidentally Australia’s Pedro. He took 40 months off to work on his skills following three consecutive losses. Perhaps he was pushed too early on but Pedro returned in April 2022 with a TKO win over Ike Villanueva.
Undoubtedly he came back with a bang finishing both fights in the first round. His opponent, Harry Hunsucker was finished within 65 seconds due to a TKO stoppage at UFC 278. Pedro will be chasing a three-fight win streak but it won’t come easy with Bukauskas motivated to cause an upset in his second stint with the UFC.
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
